Learn The Japanese Words of Foods

Listen: I like food, okay?

No that might not even be right, I love food! Especially Japanese food – curry, ramen, tempura, oh yeah!

How does that relate to learning the Japanese language? Research shows that connecting new learning to things you already understand is one of the best ways to learn! If you like food and are learning a new language you should learn the names of your favorite foods in that language!

The Japanese language is broad, but when you dedicate yourself to learn the words and phrases one by one, you’re soon going to achieve perfection. Starting with something easy to relate to, like food, is a great way to learn and have fun doing it.

When I go to Japan on vacation or for business purposes, the most common places I am going to visit will be restaurants. You have to eat 3 times a day, after all! Either in the Japanese famous restaurants, food streets or a friends house, food is a several-times-a-day thing! And you don’t want to have difficult communicating, and sometimes it’s even a hassle for you to always look on your Japanese translation book or a translation app on the phone every time you want to convey something. So let’s learn about some food!

Native Japanese Food Words vs Borrowed

Both native and borrowed words are used for Japanese food items. Some are called using the English-derived terms which are easier than the original native name. For example, onion can be “onion オニオン” or “tamanegi 玉葱”. Unfortunately not everyone in Japan knows both words, but young people are more likely to know the English.

Some other examples include: retasu for lettuce (just replace the “l” with an “r” and you’re pretty close), poteto for potatoes, and koon for corn.

Below, I’m gonna show you some common terms of food in Japanese version.

Have fun!

Vegetables (やさい – Yasai)

KanaRomajiEnglish

アスパラガス

asuparagasu

asparagus

あずき豆

azuki mame

azuki beans
ブロッコリ

burokkori

broccoli
にんじんninjincarrots
セロリseroricelery
レタスretasulettuce
キャベツkyabetsucabbage
トマトtomatotomato
ねぎnegigreen onion (scallions)
たまねぎtamanegi(round) onion
ポテトpotetopotatoes
ブロッコリーburokkoriibroccoli
ピーマンpiimanbell pepper, green pepper (Fr. piment)
まめmamebeans (in general)
ピースpiisupeas
コーンkooncorn

Fruit (フルーツ – Furuutsu)

KanaRomajiEnglish
りんごringoapple
ぶどうbudougrapes
なしnashiJapanese pear
ようなしyounashi(western) pear
かきkakipersimmon
オレンジorenjiorange
レモンremonlemon
ライムraimulime
グレープフルーツgureepufuruutsugrapefruit
バナナbananabanana
いちごichigostrawberry
ブルーベリーburuuberiiblueberry
さくらんぼsakuranbocherry
メロンmelongreen melon (honeydew)
すいかsuikawatermelon

Drinks (のみもの – Nomimono)

KanaRomajiEnglish
みずmizuwater
おちゃochagreen tea, tea in general
にほんちゃnihonchaJapanese green tea
むぎちゃmugichaJapanese iced barley tea
こうちゃkouchablack tea (lit. “crimson tea”)
コーヒーkoohiicoffee
ぎゅうにゅう・ミルクgyuunyuu/mirukumilk
ジュースjuusujuice
オレンジジュースorenjijuusuorange juice
レモネードremoneedolemonade
ソーダsoodasoda, pop
おさけosakesake (rice wine), alcohol in general
にほんしゅnihonshuJapanese sake
ワインwainwine
ビールbiirubeer

Rice, Noodles, Bread (こめとめんとパン – Kome to Men to Pan)

KanaRomajiEnglish
こめkomerice (uncooked)
ごはんgohanrice (cooked)
げんまいgenmaibrown rice
うどんudonudon (wheat noodles)
そうめんsoumensomen (thin noodles)
そばsobasoba (buckwheat noodles)
ラーメンraamenramen (Chinese noodles)
パンpanbread, rolls, pastries
かしパンkashipansweet bread, pastries
ピザpizapizza

Japanese Food (わしょく- Washoku)

KanaRomajiEnglish
すしsushisushi (sweet vinegared rice with raw seafood, in various shapes)
さしみsashimisashimi (thinly sliced raw fish over sushi rice)
てんぷらtenpuratempura (battered and fried vegetables and seafood)
やきとりyakitoriyakitori (grilled chicken skewers)
やきにくyakinikuyakiniku (grilled beef and vegetables)
やきざかなyakizakanagrilled fish
やきそばyakisobayakisoba (fried noodles, usually udon or ramen-like, with ham/sausage and vegetables)
すきやきsukiyakisukiyaki (too difficult to explain here)
おこのみやきokonomiyakiokonomiyaki (“Japanese pancakes”, with meat or seafood and vegetables inside)
とんかつtonkatsufried pork cutlet
カレー・カレーライスkaree/karee raisuJapanese curry with rice
コロッケkurokkecroquette (fried mashed potato patty with meat/seafood/vegetables)
ぎょうざgyouzaChinese style fried dumplings (potstickers)
みそしるmisoshirumiso soup (miso is a soy-based paste)
つけものtsukemonoJapanese pickles

How to order food in Japan.

Now that you know what the food names are, you need to know how to ask for something!

<Something> kudasai!
Something please!

Hanbaga kudasai!

I’ll have the Hamburger, please!

<Something> onegaishimasu.
Something, please may I have it.

So you can say “Omizu kudasai” or “Omizu onegaishimasu” to ask for water.

And once you have told the waiter everything, you can say “Ijou desu” to mean “that’s all”.

I hope these are helpful for you in learning some basics. It’s not everything, but it’s better to have something than nothing. (LOL)

Are you wanting to experience these foods in person? Learn about the cost of visiting Japan and then learn about what you can see in Tokyo.